Pāmu Farms Dairy Tour #HogsAbroad in New Zealand

This tour aligned very well with the interests of all of those on the trip studying animal science, health, biological engineering (my major), and other related subjects. We toured a fully functional dairy production facility. Though they do not further process the raw milk and milk solids, the harvesting process to the farm gate was highly automated and monitored. The farm currently operates with a herd of roughly 1000 productive animals.

The system used to monitor the health and productivity of the herd was quite advanced, with the daily levels of milk production and productive temperatures for each animal being entered into a central computing system and tracked over time. Based on this the animals’ diets can be individually monitored and health concerns could be identified early.

All of the animals on the farm were grass-fed, utilizing a diet largely based on rye grass and sugar beet, with experimental fields looking into lacrene grass. Their diet, while largely based on crops grown on site, needs to be supplemented to enable them to produce the largest quantity and highest quality of milk. During their productive season this means supplementing their water and dusting the grass they eat with calcium and magnesium.

Lacrene grows with a much deeper root system than rye, because of this it uses water more effeciently, potentially reducing use by up to 50%. It also requires no artificial phosphorus fertilization, which could potentially reduce the nutrient pollution from the site. The sugar beet is very high in carbohydrates, serving as a great crop for feeding when the animals aren’t producing milk, leading to their calorie needs being higher but with lower nutrient and mineral needs.

One of the most interesting aspects of this farm is that their entire herd produces only milk with the A2 beta casein protein, while most needs in New Zealand have approximately a 50/50 split with animals whose milk contain the A1 beta casein protein. This protein causes severe digestive issues in many problem, and this sensitivity is often mistaken for lactose intolerance. Their goal is to achieve a herd of roughly 3000 productive animals, which could also be used as breeding stock.

Automated Sprinkler Irrigation Control Panel

Feeding Rye Grass to Dairy Cow

Sugar Beet Feed Crop Before Harvest

-Eli LaSalle

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Read more from the 2019 Human and Animal Interactions students at https://uarkhumanandanimalinteractionsinnewzealand2019.home.blog/

Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Human & Animal Interaction in New Zealand program.

Get started today! Search for your study abroad opportunity at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Made my Mark on Belgium #HogsAbroad

My time in Ghent has come to a close. While I am excited to go back home, I am really going to miss this charming city. We learned so much about sustainability, the food system, and the culture of Belgium.

The overarching sustainability theme was waste valorization. This means turning waste into something useful, instead of just disposing of it. We observed this in class and at several of our site visits. At EcoTreasures, they obtain the waste of the fruit juice industry, such as fruit skins and seeds. They press the oils from the seeds to use in cosmetics or dietary supplements. Currently, the skins are turned into animal feed, but they are looking for more profitable options. In the US food system, production systems often sell their organic matter waste as animal feed. On my first industry field trip with the Biological Engineering department, we toured the Skippy peanut butter plant in central Arkansas. When asked how they disposed of the peanut shells, they also said that they were sent to animal feeds. Overall, I think Belgium has a better grasp on waste valorization, but the US is starting to get there too.

Overall, I loved Belgium, as well as their views on sustainability. All of the cities we visited were very clean, and it was so easy to get around. Nearly everything I put in my mouth was incredibly delicious, such as Belgian waffles, chocolate, beer, fries, croissants, strawberries, shrimp croquettes, moussaka… the list goes on. Since Belgium is a small country, they don’t have much room to spare and are very sustainably minded. They offer recycling for many types of plastics, drink boxes, papers, and cardboards. At the university, they also had a bin for organic waste, such as an apple core or peelings from an orange. Much of their waste goes to incinerators to produce electricity for the city.

This class helped me dive deeper into my discipline of Biological Engineering through many of the lectures and excursions. One that was very interesting to me was our lecture on food packaging. I have not taken a foods class yet, but I am enrolled for it in the fall! I am also very interested in this topic because I am trying to reduce the waste I produce and the amount of food in packaging that I buy. The lecture was all about sustainability of packaging and how it can be made better in the future. There is a fine line when looking at sustainability of food packaging. On one hand, a recyclable plastic package could be used, but it would have to be denser to obtain the preservative qualities needed. Most likely, the container is not 100% recyclable. If a package made from several plastics was used, it could be made much thinner, but it wouldn’t be able to be recycled. Often, the second situation will result in less plastic going to the landfill. It’s a very interesting question, and I hope to learn more about it soon!

Getting to learn about the Belgian culture was a blast, especially seeing the differences between it and my American culture. One of the biggest differences is history. All of the buildings are much older in Ghent, and it adds an element that is not found in most parts of the United States. Our hostel’s foundation was laid nearly 10 centuries ago, and after several renovations, it still stands in the same location by the canal. There is also Christian influence everywhere, such as large Catholic churches and Cathedrals, or “hidden Mary’s” around the town. As much as I loved it all, I am ready to get back to my tall trees, cheese dip, and bed in Fayetteville.

Attempting a jumping picture in the middle of Graffiti Street – a street where people can freely paint and express their artistic talents. or say there were here, in my case.

St. Nicholas’ Church in Ghent

St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent

View of the city from the Belfry

One of the many “Hidden Mary’s” in Ghent

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My name is Maddie, and I am a 4th year engineering student. This May, I will be traveling to Ghent, Belgium to learn about Sustainability in the Euro Food System. I can't wait to learn more about green practices and share them with you all!

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Biological Engineering major Maddie Oxner is spending the May intersession 2018 in Belgium with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System with the help of our our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the College of Engineering Study Abroad Grant.

Read more from Maddie at at sites.uark.edu/mjoxner

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Week Two #HogsAbroad in Belgium

Hello again! I am halfway through my second week in Belgium, and I am still loving being here. We had a free day at the end of last week, and I headed to Antwerp, Belgium with a few friends. It was so cheap and easy to hop on a train and head across the country. Antwerp is known for its shopping, which we did a bit of. We walked around the mall area, the old book stores, an art museum, and the historic city center. I even got to go to an English mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady! It was a great time and fun to travel outside of Ghent.

In class, we learned about wetlands as wastewater treatment systems. This was new to me, because in America, we mainly have standard concrete settling ponds and chemical treatment. In this system, it was all natural, and the plants and microorganisms worked to clean the water. They could even take up heavy metals that passed through! One of the main problems with this system is it takes up a lot of land. At the University of Ghent, they are researching how they could make a more intensive wetland, either putting it on a rooftop or on a vertical wall. As the world’s population increases, there will be an increase in wastewater produced. I am curious to see how these technologies could be implemented in a living city.

As I have been seeing more of Belgium, I have continued to notice cultural differences. Between Arkansas and Belgium, the usage of plastic bags is very different. In Arkansas, the use of plastic bags is prevalent at grocery stores as well as clothing and goods stores. At grocery stores, bringing your own bag is common. At clothing stores, it is a bit odder to bring your own. I have received a few strange looks when offering my own bag instead of the store’s plastic one. In Belgium, the grocery store has a few plastic bags, but they are €0.50 each. At clothing stores, you’re asked if you would like a bag or not. On average, it is assumed that you will bring your own bag.

Nearly every weekend, students studying at the university head home. Many live close by, where they are only a short train or car ride away. This is much different than Arkansas, where students might go home once a month.

When eating at restaurants, the portion sizes are about the same as in Arkansas. I assumed that they would be smaller, since Belgians take pride in their food and you’re assumed to eat all or most of the food served to you. Several meals have been a ton of food, more than I could eat in one sitting. We’re never asked if we would like a to-go box, but they will box your food for you if you request it.

We have a few more tours on Friday, and then, sadly, we’ll be leaving Ghent. I am so thankful that I was able to have this experience and learn about so many new things! I am excited to bring this knowledge back to the states and implement it in my life and studies. Until the next blog, happy summer and thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!

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My name is Maddie, and I am a 4th year engineering student. This May, I will be traveling to Ghent, Belgium to learn about Sustainability in the Euro Food System. I can't wait to learn more about green practices and share them with you all!

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Biological Engineering major Maddie Oxner is spending the May intersession 2018 in Belgium with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System with the help of our our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the College of Engineering Study Abroad Grant.

Read more from Maddie at at sites.uark.edu/mjoxner

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Weekend Trips #HogsAbroad in Belgium

This weekend, we took a trip to multiple cities in Northern Belgium. We went west to Heuvelland and Ypres, then headed north to Ostend and Bruges.

Our first stop on our tour was in Heuvelland to visit the Wijngoeg Monteberg winery. It was family owned and much smaller than a typical American winery. Their property was only about 25 acres and was the biggest in the area. For comparison, the average Californian vineyard is about 5,000 acres. Their family does all of the farm and winemaking work themselves, occasionally hiring a person or two to help prune the vines or pick the grapes. Because of the winery’s size and Belgium’s high export taxes, the wine they produce stays in Belgium. We were able to taste several of their wines, including a sparkling blend of chardonnay and pinot gris, a pinot noir, and a rosé. They showed us all of their production equipment, talked about their grape growing methods, and taught us how sparkling wines are made. At the conclusion of the tour, we were treated to a picnic in the vineyard that overlooked the countryside.

Fresh food is readily available in many places. At the winery, since they are surrounded by farms, our picnic was comprised of entirely locally sourced foods. Fresh markets are available in several cities. In Gent, there are fresh markets set up every Sunday selling breads, cheeses, meats, fruits, and veggies. In Ostend, there was a fish market near the sea that sold the morning’s catch.

At the picnic, several meat spreads/salads were available. These were similar to tuna salad but made with pork or beef. I made sure to try some since similar products are not available in the United States, and they were very good.

This excursion let us see a few more cultures present in Belgium. During our time in Ostend, the main language I heard was French, and many of the restaurants on the pier had French names, such as “Toi, Moi, et la Mer” and “Le Chevailer.” There were many children on the beach as well, something that we haven’t seen a lot of in Gent. Ostend was a more casual place, since it was near and beach and so many different people come to stay. I also noticed that there were more runners and people exercising. In Gent, I have seen one person running in athletic gear. Either they get up earlier than I do, or they work out mainly in a gym or not at all. It was more similar to Arkansas, seeing people as they walk/run the trails.

In Bruges, there were many tourists. The city is very tourist-driven on a normal day, but even more so this weekend. There were many groups celebrating the final game of the FA Football Cup. The entire town square was filled with people wearing their blue jerseys and scarves celebrating their team’s win. The tourist crowd was a little more friendly than the normal European crowd. When we went on a boat tour, we waved at many people along the canal, most of whom waved back. This is not a common occurrence in Gent, but more so in Arkansas.

Overall, this weekend was wonderful! It was great to get out and see more of Belgium. As always, thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers sent my way!

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My name is Maddie, and I am a 4th year engineering student. This May, I will be traveling to Ghent, Belgium to learn about Sustainability in the Euro Food System. I can't wait to learn more about green practices and share them with you all!

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Biological Engineering major Maddie Oxner is spending the May intersession 2018 in Belgium with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System with the help of our our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the College of Engineering Study Abroad Grant.

Read more from Maddie at at sites.uark.edu/mjoxner

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

First Thoughts #HogsAbroad in Belgium

I’ve only been in Belgium for 3 days, but I am slowly falling in love with this little city. Okay, it’s not that little, since the population is higher than the biggest city in Arkansas. I have tried several types of Belgian chocolate, and well as a Belgian waffle with strawberries, Nutella, and ice cream. Jet lag has been real, and coffee hasn’t helped much. I won’t deny that I have nearly dozed off in half of my lectures so far…

One of our first lectures was all about beer. While it had little to do with sustainability, it had everything to do with Belgian culture. We learned about the history of beer, the different types, and the characteristics of beers that gave them their unique flavors, plus we were able to try some of each kind. I am not a beer drinker, so a few were lost on me, but there were several that I did enjoy. One was Lindemans Kriek, which is a sour cherry beer. I never knew that there were fruit flavored beers! It tasted more like a Moscato than a beer. I also enjoyed a white Hoegaarden. It was an unfiltered, light beer that was mild in flavor. We all left the classroom feeling very happy at the end of the day.

On Tuesday, we learned about the significance of animal agriculture in Belgium. In the 1800s, the country had a shift in the type of agricultural products it produced. Belgian farmers could no longer compete with the cheap cereal crops produced in the United States, so they started raising livestock as a main agricultural product. We talked about difference between types of livestock and the sustainability of each one. Monogastric animals like pigs and chickens make up a significant percentage of the Belgian animal crop, in addition to cattle. Cows produce more methane and take up more room per head, and they are generally considered less sustainable than pigs and chickens. The latter are more efficient at converting feed to muscle mass. The big question arises when one considers that the monogastric animals eat feed that could also be used for human consumption, while only 14% of a cow’s diet is digestible by humans. Cows are a way of converting inedible fibers into nutrient-rich meat. The question is posed: would we rather have a meat source that is taking away human food and causing less of an environmental impact, or a meat source that is converting inedible material to edible, but has a higher impact on the environment? There is also the question if we should even eat meat at all? Although it would benefit environmental sustainability and animal welfare, it would devastate the economic sustainability of many areas. And cheeseburger lovers would be sad. I will save that discussion for another day.

Some aspects of sustainability that I have noticed outside of the classroom include: Bathrooms and transportation. Many toilets are low-flow and have different water use settings based on what you need to flush. The showers and sinks are the push-button type, where they only stay on for 10-30 seconds. This did help me drastically reduce my water consumption while in the shower, because 1. It turned off, and 2. It made me stop and think about how many times I kept having the press the button. Transportation is mostly by bike and public transportation, such as buses and trams.

There are very significant culture differences between Belgium and Arkansas. The biggest difference is the transportation. Among students, very few have a car and get around solely by bike and foot. Currently, our group is traveling by foot. It’s working out well, but I must remember that I no longer have priority at crosswalks, unlike on campus in Fayetteville. When crossing the street, I have to make sure there are no trams, buses, cars, or bikes coming. We get rental bikes tomorrow evening. Part of me is very excited to be able to bike around town and explore further, but I am also terrified because I don’t bike much (thanks Fayettehills) and there is a lot of traffic.

A group of my friends and I went out for a walk yesterday evening, and for a while we sat and people watched. About half of the people who passed by were on bikes. We saw Uber Eats delivers driving on bikes, and pizza delivery guys riding their mopeds (or motorized bikes as the Belgians call them). Everyone dresses well. We saw no sweatpants or gym shorts, and no t-shirts. Everyone just had classy, non-branded outfits. The city is very compact, which makes it very easy to walk everywhere. The city center, where our hostel is located, is a strictly pedestrian portion of the city, excluding the occasional taxi, tram, or bus. This is very different from Fayetteville and other places in the US, where cities are built around automotive transportation. Although, this compaction comes with very little green space. There are trees around, but very few lawns or flowerbeds. That is one thing I miss about Arkansas.

A random culture difference that I have noticed is that most classrooms and restaurants have coat racks. People hang their rain jackets, windbreakers, and cardigans there. There are very few places around Arkansas that have coat racks available.

Thanks again for reading my blog today! I hope summer is going well for all of you as well. As always, I really appreciate all of the prayers and thoughts sent my way! Please enjoy some pictures that I have taken so far during my trip:

The view from my daily breakfast table in the hostel

Menin Gate: a World War I memorial in Ypres, Belgium dedicated to soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown.

The beautiful waffle I shared with friends on a warm afternoon

The canal at dusk

Our group in front of a plant research facility at the University of Gent

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My name is Maddie, and I am a 4th year engineering student. This May, I will be traveling to Ghent, Belgium to learn about Sustainability in the Euro Food System. I can't wait to learn more about green practices and share them with you all!

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Biological Engineering major Maddie Oxner is spending the May intersession 2018 in Belgium with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System with the help of our our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the College of Engineering Study Abroad Grant.

Read more from Maddie at at sites.uark.edu/mjoxner

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Peace Out, Fayetteville: Getting Ready #HogsAbroad in Belgium

One more final. That is all that stands in between me and my study abroad. Oh, and a lot of packing.

Hello, everyone! If you didn’t know already, I will soon be heading to Ghent, Belgium on the U of A’s Sustainability in the Agro-Food Chain study abroad trip. I am beyond excited for this experience, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you!

The reason that I selected this study abroad trip was because it fit so closely with my major, Biological Engineering. We study food, water, and energy, and how they can be managed to be more sustainable. During this study abroad course, we will be learning about plant and animal production, biogas, aquaculture, the circular economy, environmental biotechnology, sustainable water management, and some Belgian staples: chocolate and beer. I hope to work with water in the future, so I am especially looking forward to learning about water management, as well as aquaculture. The topic of the circular economy also is a great interest. In today’s culture, we have a very linear economy, meaning we use items once and throw them away. I am very interested in learning more about the building blocks of a circular economy, so that I can apply those ideas to my life and future job. Lastly, learning about the science of chocolate and how it is made will be so fun. I have always been a fan of learning more about food: how it is made, where it comes from, and the social significance behind it. Getting to eat the food afterwards is always a plus, too.

Besides learning, I am ready to dive into another culture, eat new foods, and find my way around a new city. During these two weeks, I hope I can be open minded and become Belgian for a short time. The city is very bikeable (something I can’t quite say about the hills of Fayetteville) and many people get around that way. We get to rent bikes that we can take to and from school each day. Within 2 blocks of our hostel, there are TWO Catholic Churches, and many more throughout the city. I’ve already checked out the Mass times and open visiting hours. I’m a little excited, to say the least. The cultural aspect I am most ready to learn about though, is food. I have never been one to shy away from food (except for the occasional casserole), and I am excited to try all of the flavors that Belgium has to offer. Some tips that I have heard from past travelers include: try the coffee, waffles, and chocolates, as well as cultural dishes like moules et frites (mussels and fries) and carbonnade flamande (a Flemish stew).

Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog! I will be posting new updates about twice a week, so make sure to come back to hear more about my trip. I would love to let you know about everything that I am learning, seeing, and doing! As always, thank you for any thoughts or prayers you send my way, they are greatly appreciated.

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My name is Maddie, and I am a 4th year engineering student. This May, I will be traveling to Ghent, Belgium to learn about Sustainability in the Euro Food System. I can't wait to learn more about green practices and share them with you all!

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Biological Engineering major Maddie Oxner is spending the May intersession 2018 in Belgium with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System with the help of our our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the College of Engineering Study Abroad Grant.

Read more from Maddie at at sites.uark.edu/mjoxner

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Sheroes Hangout #HogsAbroad in India

Sheroes Hangout is a café run by acid attack survivors and spearheaded by the Stop Acid Attacks campaign. The café serves food and drinks all day, hosts various events and parties, and has a wall of fully stocked bookshelves for visitors to read. Everyone ordered warm drinks and we got a couple of orders of masala fries for the table. While we waited we passed around some of the articles on the table and learned more about the café we’d walked into and the organization behind it. For more information visit their website at https://www.sheroeshangout.com/agra

Once our drinks came our waitress told us a little more about herself and the café and put on an informational video for us. We learned about the lack of laws set up to protect survivors and prosecute perpetrators of acid attacks and the lack of regulation surrounding sale of acid. Our waitress told us a main reason behind acid attacks is when a woman rejects a man. We heard interviews from various survivors in the video and learned the reasons given for their attacks: in one case a woman’s in-laws urged her husband to throw acid at her because she hadn’t had any sons. Another woman was at work when she was attacked by a customer.

Through watching the video we learned more about the Stop Acid Attacks campaign and how they work to bring more attention and regulation to this issue and empower women who are survivors. They help survivors rebuild their lives after their attacks and try to help them financially through the long process of healing and the multiple surgeries that usually entails. They also work with these women to help them build skills and secure employment. In many cases survivors isolate themselves and many are ostracized from their families because of the reaction in the wider community. This is where Sheroes Hangout comes in. The café employs many women as waitresses and cooks and also serves as a space for women to promote the trades they work on. One girl in the video told about how she was able to pursue her passion of fashion design and opened up a small boutique in the sheroes hangout to sell the dresses she designs. The language used by the women in the café emphasized the point that they were not victims, they were survivors, and they were stepping up to make good of a bad situation.

Sheroes Hangout was very unique among our experience in India for several reasons. One thing that stood out about Sheroes was the fact that this is the only restaurant we ever saw female waitstaff. Throughout India we always had waiters and never waitresses. I think this is because young men who were from more rural backgrounds or had less schooling were able to go for these kinds of jobs when it might not be considered respectable for a young woman. We met many female students at the undergraduate level and graduate level universities we visited, and high-skill jobs for both genders exist in the fields they were pursuing, but at lower skill levels there is a big gender disparity in the work force. The Stop Acid Attacks campaign works with Sheroes Hangout to provide these occupational opportunities to survivors while creating a safe work environment for them. Throughout this study abroad program we were shown the very best of what India had to offer in its beautiful monuments and scenery and the technological advances we were told about at the various farms, universities, and institutes. Our perspective was made richer by learning from the women at Sheroes about this widespread issue.

*feature image borrowed from culturetrip.com*

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Jaden Talley, Biological Engineering major

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Students spent the January Intersession with our Experiential Learning in Indian Agriculture faculty-led program. Read more from the U of A Faculty-Led: Experiential Learning in Indian Agriculture program at https://ipo.uark.edu/india/

For more information about Bumpers College study abroad programs, go to Bumpers' international page. Bumpers College offers faculty-led programs to Belgium, India, Mozambique, New Zealand, Australia, and Italy; courses and exchanges in France and Austria; internships in Greece and Scotland; and research in Brazil, the Philippines and Greece.

My Official Totz Ziens #HogsAbroad in Belgium

Before I begin, my apologies for using the saying “tots ziens” in probably every one of these blog posts. I realize that it is a little unnecessary, but it was one of the few phrases I really caught on to during my time in this very linguistically diverse country, and I am proud.

Although our summer school program ended on Friday, I will be continuing my experience abroad with some additional family travels, and I found myself back in Ghent today. My sister met me at the airport on Saturday morning, and we are staying in Brussels until Tuesday morning, when we will leave for Amsterdam. Since Ghent left such a big impact on my little self, I had to drag my sister there today and show her the ropes. Officially saying goodbye to the city today was hard, and I cannot thank Hilde, Oliver, and Michelle enough for taking such good care of us there.

Along with the city as a whole, the University of Ghent also left an extremely found impression on me. Even though I may not yet know the particular discipline I will be diving deeper in to, I can now confidently proclaim that sustainability is definitely a concept that I am extremely passionate about and would love to make a difference in this world by following that passion. Sustainability is in greater demand in Belgium than America, particularly in response to the population density of the country (and Europe as a whole). I have noticed in the past two weeks that overall, reusing, reducing, and recycling is a much more prominent mindset in Belgium than in America, and that is what sustainability is centered on. Sustainability is limiting our negative footprint on the Earth in order to preserve the quality for future generations. Even to an uneducated observer, small things such as recycling bins are more prevalent here. However, during this experience I have become more educated on the concept of sustainable practices myself. These practices range from water quality, to genetically modified organisms, and even to bio-based products.

One major component that separates the Belgian perspective on sustainability from America’s is the subsides that provide the research and development needed to further this practice. Another government related separation is due to more efficient regulations regarding environmental practices, even down to product labeling. `For example, in terms of water quality, we learned that the United States has only the Clean Water Act, but across Europe they have four different more precise water regulations: the Water Framework Directive, the Bathing Water Directive, the Urban Stormwater Directive, and the Drinking Water Directive.

Bio-based Innovations Garden

Concerning product labeling, if a bottle has the phrase “bio-based” on it, then most people think they are doing quite a service by purchasing it, in both America and Belgium. Little do they know that the phrase does not always fit a perfect bio-based product that is best for the environment. A bio-based product is one that is not only biologically produced but also biodegradable. Many products with the label bio-based are only biologically produced, and if you look closely, you may read that really only 30% of the bottle is produced from plants. For a more circular economy, the government needs to better monitor these labels and further educate the public on the realistic meanings.

Hemp Building material

During the lecture concerning product labeling, we also learned that less packaging on these products, particularly food, is not always more “green.” While most fruits and vegetables do not require any packaging (such as bananas that come with their own), packaging on meats can induce a much longer shelf life. Not only is this longer shelf life beneficial to the economy of the store, it also reduces the energy used to store the meat. Although more plastic is used, this packaging reduces the impact derived from the life cycle analysis of the product. Life cycle analysis (LCA) is an evaluation on the efficiency of the overall process used to produce a good. For example, even though many people think cars such as Prius’s to “going green,” a LCA will determine that these cars are not as efficient as they are made out to be. Many Prius’s are not beneficial to the environment at all if they are powered by electricity coming straight from a coal-burning power plant.

"My heart"

Another very different topic that was very interesting to me and my possible future career path discussed during the program was the growing of cultured meat. This is defined as the manufacturing of meat products through tissue engineering to minimize the negative effect that livestock such as cows have on the environment. After growing up on my father’s angus beef farm, he was very confused when I told him three years ago that I was no longer eating red meat. For starters, it would upset my stomach every time I ate it, but more importantly, cows are some of the most inefficient animals out there. Not only do they produce more methane than cars do in their digestive tracts, cows need an input of much more energy and water than their output of energy. Although just beginning, cultured meats are a concept that I would love to conduct research on in order to develop more sustainable practices that even my steak-loving father would enjoy.

From these lectures to touring places such as the Cacaolab, I have learned much more about how diverse the concept of sustainability is and my opportunities for future career paths. Since Belgium left such a fond impression on my heart and the general population has more of an overall sustainable mindset, I also learned that a graduate or post-doctoral degree in a European country is not too far-fetched. My mom already mentioned I should get an internship next summer abroad, but I have a gut-feeling that could be due to the fact she wants to come and visit. No one really knows what exactly the future holds, but now I feel like I have a much better idea at least. To the country I probably would never have thought to travel to before this opportunity: I love your general mindset, Speculoos ice cream, gourmet strawberries, and crazy bikers. The only thing I would like to change about you is the inclusion of Mexican food and my dog, but I will be back to both of those things soon enough. Tots zienz!!

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Eleanor, a Biological Engineering major, studied abroad with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System program.
Read more from Eleanor at https://you.uark.edu/egh001/
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Home Already #HogsAbroad in Belgium

We officially only have two full days left in little Gent, Belgium, and I can’t help but think this place feels more like home every day. Currently, I am sitting on the top bunk in my six girl room, eating chocolate after a completely vegan dinner, and people-watching the busy streets from my window. Even though this culture is very different from the American culture I grew up surrounded by in Arkansas, many similarities are still prevalent. One thing I have noticed is that food, music, and competition are three things that can always bring people together. Personally, I immediately bonded with our one of our internal relations coordinators, Michelle, over tennis. On a bus back to the hostel from an excursion, Michelle and I engaged in probably a fifteen-minute conversation about the upcoming French Open. However, even though we could immediately bond and discuss a passionate topic, I was reminded that we still have differences because of the court surface we have grown up playing on. I have only played on clay courts once in my life, and he has never once played on hard courts. This is a constant reminder that everyone in this world has major similarities that are more important than small irrelevant differences in environments.

In the realm of music, not only do most people share a common enjoyment for good live music, (like we saw outside the food truck festival and the street artists we pass daily) but also the similarities go a step further between Belgium and America. Here in Belgium, every club/pub plays typically American pop songs. I am still fascinated with the idea of becoming fluent in multiple languages like most people here are, and then I could enjoy music from other cultures as they do to ours.  Lastly, food is obviously enjoyed cross cultures, but one thing I have noticed about Belgium is that I have not seen a single Hispanic restaurant (honestly it’s the one thing I miss the most from America). What Belgian’s lack in tacos they make up for in chocolate, but my first meal in the States will definitely have to be shrimp tacos.

On the more educational side, I have found that the lectures are informative but slightly broad. I have gained the most new knowledge through our almost-daily excursions to new environmentally conscious companies. Most companies we have visited will not even be introduced to America within the next thirty years simply because of the mindset the American people have towards government subsidies going towards the environmental industry. Thus far, my favorite excursions have been to Inagro, Ecotreasures, and tours of the Cacaolab and Delirium Brewery.

Inagro seems to me like a sustainable consulting company. They are a large institute that conducts research and gives advice in agriculture and horticulture to farmers. After a tour of the premises, we saw trial plots, massive greenhouses, and an aquaculture center where new varieties of different crops, pests/diseases, and fish are examined. One development that fascinated me was a natural system to filter out the pesticides that are leached into farm water. The water is run through a system of tanks with compost first to settle out the pesticides and provide the surface area for the microorganisms to break down the bacteria. Then, the water is pumped to different plants in order to evaporate, with the most efficient being the willow tree.  This creates a closed, no-waste system to rid the crop water of pesticides but still take advantage of all the nutrients in the run off because the compost is lastly distributed back to farmland. Additionally at Inagro, the massive greenhouses used a system of hydroponics to grow multiple crops, which was very interesting to see in action. One crop we saw being cultivated was my absolute favorite food: the tomato! Anyone that knows me probably realizes how excited I was about this. Attached are pictures of the pesticides filter, hydroponic system, and greenhouses. 

Ecotreasures is another company that promotes sustainability in a way never before seen in America. Ecotreasures takes pulp runoff from berry growing farms in order to make unique oils. When we toured the plant, we were able to view the process of taking raspberry bits and turning it into raspberry seed oil that is currently being used in makeup and other cosmetics. This again, minimizes waste through new applications of residual streams. The founder actually mentioned after the tour that some blueberry farms in California have reached out to him, so hopefully this practice could be introduced to the States in the near future.

Sustainable practices are even evident in the Breweries here, which use solar panels. Also, although less to do with sustainability, touring the Cacaolab provided us with more insight into the Belgian culture and was delicious. We were able to see the process of actually producing the world famous chocolates, which surprisingly does not happen at the local chocolatiers. These excursions were less educational, but submersed us a little deeper into the Belgian culture, and I think each of us appreciated it a little more afterwards. Sadly, we only have two days of classes left, in which we will tour a vineyard and travel to visit a company in the Netherlands. As I am currently looking out on the canal from our little hostels kitchen seat, I can already say I am going to miss this little home of ours.

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Eleanor, a Biological Engineering major, studied abroad with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System program.
Read more from Eleanor at https://you.uark.edu/egh001/
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

"I am just a Little Lady" #HogsAbroad in Belgium

After a long work-week full of lectures and excursions to three very interesting biotechnological institutions (which I will touch on in a later blog), we packed up a small backpack and headed to the Oostende on the Belgian coast. We began our trip with guided tour around a nature reserve outside of the city. Our tour guide, Herman, was very informational and passionate about the dunes that we traveled across, but in comparison to Arkansas’s wildlife, the competition was scarce. The wildlife we ran across just ended up being one butterfly, but Herman pointed out many plants native to the area and the histories behind them. Most were used in herbal remedies, but one even ended up being a dead white asparagus plant, which is my personal favorite vegetable! However, Herman did say we did not have the appropriate amount of time to see most of the land, so there is a possibility that the actual dunes themselves were more prevalent in other parts of the reserve. Overall, I feel as if it can be confidently deduced that Arkansans excels more at all things outdoorsy, and the Belgians should stick to chocolate and land yachting, which we were not very good at.

Following the nature tour, we found ourselves at a land yacht club. Land yachting is a recreational sport on the Belgian coast that resembles a cross between sailing on a sail boat and go-karting. Before embarking on that adventure, we ate a picnic lunch of a sandwich of our preference. This was unique because the sandwiches were delivered to the yacht club in a small van and were really just a large baguette with a spread of your preference. My spread of choice had a chicken curry spread, which would never be found at the typically Arkansan sandwich shop. Also, at all Belgian restaurants, one must always order tap water and even at cost as high as coke. I’ve also noticed that it is very common here to go out for drinks before almost any event.

Next, with full bellies, our yachting coach took us down to the beach in what resembled astronaut suits, and she proceeded to demonstrate the track we would be following on the shoreline. She was a very small woman (hence the title) but I immediately was impressed with not only her motor skills but also her feistiness. She seemed like one tough cookie. I cannot tell you that our land yachting trip was a success, but I am not sure if it was operator error or lack of control of the wind. Since the morning, the wind had continuously died down, which would obviously cause our land yachts to just stop moving in the sand. Although it sounds like a

rough time, it was hilarious watching everyone push their carts through the sand and water once stuck. While on the beach, I got the chance to talk a little more with our coach, which has become a favorite pastime of mine. I really enjoy getting the chance to talk with the locals on their origin and life history because since Europe is in such a central location on Earth, most locals have quite the travel history. It is much easier for them to quickly pack up and experience different cultures than most in America. For example, our coach was originally from Belgium, but she sails around the Caribbean and Europe with her older
brother. Additionally, she has taken multiple backpacking trips all by herself and continues to do so today. I found her as a woman I would look up to very much if I knew her better because of her independency, even though she is “just a little lady,” (probably around five foot tall).

After land yachting, we had a lovely three course dinner in which each course was at a different restaurant. Again, we began with drinks and a very petite appetizer. The main course included my favorite meal (zoodles!!) but was also some of the best fish I have ever had. I feel as if the culture here is much more likely to consume less red meat (which is decidedly the worst farmed meat for the environment) and more “healthier” meats such as fish because they are so fresh. Fresh fish is much harder to come by in the land-locked state of Arkansas. If I lived in almost any European country I could easily be a full-blown pescatarian.

Sunday morning we split up into teams of four and had a scavenger hunt where we had to answer historical questions about the city while driving to various locations. The only catch was that we were actually driving in a four person bike, which is another recreational activity in Belgium never-before seen in Arkansas. My team, the Oostende Mafia, ended up in second place, but the bike hunt was definitely a
fun and unique way to tour a whole city in an hour and a half. The biking worked up quite an appetite, so we had lunch at a local pasta restaurant that served the best vegetarian spaghetti that I have ever consumed. Likewise, along with the concept of eating less red meat being more easily acceptable here, it is also more accesible. Every restaurant offers vegetarian options of its main dishes, and I love it.

Finally, we packed up one last time and took a short train ride to Bruges. Because of its size, traveling through Belgium takes very little time, and is easier for locals than for me to travel home from college. Public transportation such as buses and trams are extremely well-kept and do not have the negative connotation that American public transportation can sometimes have. The train from Oostende to Bruges took around fifteen minutes, and the train from Bruges back home in Gent took around thirty minutes with multiple stops. Easy access to beautiful historic cities such as Bruges is extremely lovely. Bruges was actually constructed with a moat around the city walls, and we got the chance to go on a canal tour while we were there. The canal was surrounded by apartments and a riverwalk which were breathtaking, but the city as a whole seemed very tourist-minded as opposed to our home in Gent.

One other cultural difference between America and Belgium that I have noticed in every city is the style of the locals. For example, I have yet to see a female student at the University of Gent wearing jean shorts, but instead, most wear sun dresses or lose pants. Men (and even college students) also seem to dress much more professional here, usually wearing jeans and a nicer top with a hat or scarf. Personally, I am a fan of this trend because one can easily express their own style. In America, and especially at the University of Arkansas, a common stereotype is that “everyone looks the exact same,” and where is the fun in that?
Lastly, never fear mom and dad, my next blog post will be much more educational and informational.


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Eleanor, a Biological Engineering major, studied abroad with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System program.
Read more from Eleanor at https://you.uark.edu/egh001/
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Belgian Breakfasts and Bio-technology #HogsAbroad in Belgium

For starters, time changes and jet lag are no joke. I watched the sunset and the following sunrise on my first ever eight hour plane ride, before finally touching down in Brussels, Belgium. Hilde, our international relations assistant from the University of Gent, picked us up at the airport and escorted us to Gent and our hostel for a brunch of sorts. Every breakfast/brunch here at the hostel consists of the most wonderfully fresh bread with jelly on it (or chocolate sprinkles?), apples, and a cup of coffee, of course. This sounds extremely simple, but it is nice to find a whole community so content with the smallest things such as delicious simplistic breakfasts. This is slightly contradictory to my perspective on how Americans view breakfasts or just meals in general, which seems lustful for endless options and unnecessary in comparison. Another cultural difference I recognized before this adventure but did not understand the degree of is how little Europeans and Belgians in particular drive cars. Cars cannot even go down the street our hostel is on (which is central, downtown Gent) unless they have a particular license. Today I even learned that there are in fact more bikes in Belgium that people. Belgian bikers are also on a whole other level than any biker I have encountered at school in Fayetteville. They bob and weave throughout all the congested streets and pedestrians with such ease it is as if they were simply on their own two feet. Hilde actually rented us bikes that we picked up tonight, and it felt as if we were living in a movie as we rode down the narrow cobblestone alleys lined with multicolored old brick apartments. The glamorous movie feeling dissapated quickly as I had to dodge the trams and other bikers, but it is refreshing to see such a fit and active community. The healthiness is almost surprising in relation to the amount of alcohol and carbs (pizza and pasta) that Europeans consume. Also, the stereotype that Belgians consume an insane amount of chocolate and coffee is not an exaggeration. I thought that maybe it was only a first day celebration gift to us yesterday at the university, but even today between every lecture and during every break, coffee and chocolate were constantly refilled in the classroom.

Even though we have only just completed day two of lectures at the University of Gent, my favorite lecture yet concerning sustainability was one given this morning on plant production in Belgium by Professor Reheul. Even adding in a few historical facts, Professor Reheul described the production of the plants that Belgium is most famous for, such as endives and coffee surrogate. I also got the opportunity to ask the professor about which vegetables are in season at this moment, to which he replied strawberries and carrots. This is definitely comparable to America’s in-season foods at the moment, and is what I will be purchasing at the market tomorrow to cook in the hostel. One of the highlights I learned was that Belgium is actually the founder of the practice of crop rotation to conserve soil and land quality on farms. Also, it was interesting to become aware of how sustainable practices are still increasingly researched, such as saving the roots of particular veggies to turn to compost and fertilizers. Happily, we were told that no one in Europe really disputes or challenges the fact that climate change is real, which was a relief.

Along with vegetables and crops, we also became very well-informed on one of the traditional aspects of Belgium through a beer-tasting lecture, in which we sampled ten different Belgian beers. Although I did not go into the lecture with much knowlege on the history of beers, I found it interesting that the monks are the group of people acclaimed to have transformed brewing to an artisanal craft, and they described beer as “liquid bread.” Along with the history, I can now explain the differences in IPAs, Hops, and Groots. Another fun fact about Belgian beers is that at restaurants or bars, each different kind of beer is served in their own glass, no matter where it is served. Although very interesting, after only enjoying maybe 2/10 beer samples, I have decided even some of the best beers in the world are still not my drink of preference.

Today, following the lecture on plant production, we were able to tour the VIB, which is the Flemish Institute of Bio-technology. At the VIB, research is conducted by 1,300+ scientists concerning genetically modified plants and changing particular phenotypes in plants in order to increase sustainability and decrease the carbon footprint. Similarly to America, the average Belgian’s perspective on GMOs is very negative and untrustworthy, with a focus more on organic crops. What many do not realize is that with increasing research, genetically modified organisms is exactly what the world needs in order to produce more of less harmful crops.

I still hold many questions concerning animal production in Flanders. Compared to American attitudes, I would consider the average Belgian more conscious of what meat they consume. For example, every Thursday at the University of Gent the cafeteria serves no meat at all. However, I would still like to dive into more detail on the environmental measures that farmers in Belgium are enforced to practice and what exact treatments are they using to lessen the impact of manure and fertilizer runoff from these farms. Tomorrow we begin with a lecture on GMOs that I am looking forward to. Hopefully, it will answer other questions concerning current research on the subject and ways the scientific world is trying to change the general mindset of the public.

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Eleanor, a Biological Engineering major, studied abroad with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System program.
Read more from Eleanor at https://you.uark.edu/egh001/
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

A Week’s Experience #HogsAbroad in Belgium

For the weekend, our group traveled to western Flanders to visit a few unique destinations. I could see France from the sand dunes at a nature reserve, we all tried our hand at land yachting (picture below, after I gave someone a push), and we wandered the city of Bruges, for a few examples. All the while, I have noticed more cultural differences and similarities. One area I have paid attention to due to the nature of our classes is the food system. The food system here has its own piece of the culture compared to the American food system.

The most annoying difference for me is that I can’t have free refills of a drink. Drinking less is more sustainable for natural resources and healthier if your drink has a lot of sugar, but it certainly challenges a habit I have developed over the years. Having a heads up, I thought I could avoid this refill dilemma with my water bottle. However, most places discourage me using my water bottle. It costs them money—water is not free! This discouragement goes against sustainability, as it requires the restaurant to go through more containers.

As many of you probably know, Europe serves food in smaller servings. The average American already eats more than they should, and fast food restaurants do a great job of increasing the serving size for us. I do not know if Europe’s smaller serving practice is because of high population density combined with arable land or not, but it’s my theory for now. This practice is also more sustainable for people: to begin monitoring their serving size, their snacking, and their food waste. When there are smaller serving sizes, there is less food waste. The USDA reports that Americans waste up to 40% of the food we produce, an economic, environmental, and social issue.

According to a social scientist that lectured, most Belgians (and Europeans overall) place a lot of weight in the welfare of the animal. Sustainability must account for the welfare of the animal, despite the increase in resources it takes. Sustainability does not only involve the environment, it must consider equity both economically and socially. In another area, Europeans seem a bit more hesitant toward GMO food (despite the surprising popularity of the Belgian Blue cattle). The United States did just pass legislature on required GMO labeling, so maybe we want to mimic Europe now that Europe is shifting toward GMO acceptance. It remains controversial in both cultures, but the younger population has started to embrace GMO technology more. One important con for organic food is the large carbon footprint and land area it requires.

The countryside here does not have the same feel as the countryside in Arkansas and Oklahoma. At no point did I feel we ever reached a pure rural countryside, as houses exist everywhere and city transportation links all the villages that link together. As my friend Seth said, “Even the countryside is compact here.” Small farms and intensive land use keep the food production going for the Belgians.

In the theme of compact space-use, the bathrooms in many places look like this:

This is yet another difference, as many Americans have a strong opinion on bathroom arrangement. As I walked around this weekend, I noticed a lack of trash cans and recycling bins. Perhaps Arkansas’s campus has spoiled me, with these utilities within sight at all times. Littering exists at about the same levels in Belgium as it does in the U.S, but they do have a stronger recycling program throughout the country.

After getting turned around in Bruges, I found that Belgians are friendly and helpful with directions. The massive church towers make navigation slightly easier, but Belgium makes up for this advantage by providing tiny, easy-to-miss signs. It evens out. I did doubt the instructions a few times from people, but we made it to the train station with at least seventeen seconds to spare.

Belgians seem to start a bit later in the morning, but they stay up later at night compared to the middle-aged American. Dogs have access to many more places, and most of the restaurants have outdoor tables to use. Despite the assignment requesting us to note differences for these blogs, I feel that it is important to list similarities, to remember our shared humanity. The similarity here being that an average Belgian day is not much different than an average American day, coffee is abundant for people heading to work, the people love dogs, and restaurants want to provide whatever gets them customers. Listing all the similarities does not work as easily as differences, as there are many more similarities than differences.

Overall, the culture has a more progressive political ideology, the style appears more proper, and the people are a bit shyer. Conversation, while not easily engaged, is less superficial with Belgians as they want to get more to the point. In many ways, Belgium has been a breath of fresh air. As I have said before, traveling teaches lessons not found in a classroom. In this case, traveling makes me notice reasons to be grateful for where I live, as well as to remain grateful for the many opportunities
I have received in the few years I have lived.

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Biological Engineering major Kendrick studied abroad with our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System program.
Read more from Kendrick at https://kendrickchardaway.wordpress.com/
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Weekend Getaway to the Belgian Coast #HogsAbroad in Belgium

Weekend Getaway to the Belgian Coast 

This weekend, the Arkansas crew had an amazing opportunity to go to the Belgian coast and visit two other major cities in Belgium! After finishing up two successful days in the classroom and touring a bio-based plant on Thursday and Friday, we hit the road on Saturday morning. 

We started out with a trip to the sand dunes in the Northwest corner of Belgium, and went through a guided nature walk with a wonderfully enthusiastic man named Herman (pictured). Herman had an unbridled enthusiasm about all of the plants in the park, and their different useful qualities, and about making sure we were engaged, which made for an overall enjoyable experience. From there, we headed out to a land yacht club, where we were able to try our hands at land sailing! We were definitely in more of a tourist area, and there were an increasing number of French speakers there as compared to Dutch speakers, due to our close proximity to the French border at the yacht club. This was one of the more noticeable changes I observed in that area, especially after being around Dutch speakers in Gent, and in Flanders (the Northern region of Belgium) in general.

After an interesting experience with the land yachts that involved less-than-favorable wind conditions and a graceful nose dive into a land yacht by yours truly, we then drove to the city of Ostend. We stayed in a beautiful and historic hotel right on the beachfront known as the Thermae Palace, which was certainly an apt description. The entire time we stayed there, I felt like I was living on the set of a classic 1950s movie, which was absolutely enchantin g. Most of the other tourists I saw staying in this particular hotel were older. In terms of the food system in Ostend, fish seemed to be very prominent, which makes complete sense considering its proximity to the North Sea. The beachfront near our hotel was beautiful, and on Sunday morning, was filled with families and couples enjoying a morning on the boardwalk and beach, picking up ice cream or stopping for a nice lunch. The people in Ostend seemed to take life at a slower pace than those of Gent, but that could be due to my limited impression of them.

On Sunday morning, we were able to venture through the city of Ostend via a go-cart scavenger hunt, which was a surprisingly fun time. I was on a team with Elle, Kendrick, and Dr. Runkle (pictured left), and we succeeded in obtaining second place, while seeing several major areas of Ostend! I find it interesting that in Ostend and Gent, bicycles are quite common, and that bike lanes are everywhere. Also, bikes often can get the right of way, which is nice anytime we biked anywhere. In Ostend, no one seemed surprised by us riding around all of the streets on go carts during our scavenger hunt, and I saw multiple people driving around in golf carts as well, particularly by the beach. 

At around one on Sunday, we left Ostend for Bruges via train! We were able to take a boat tour through the canals of Bruges, which allowed us to have a more scenic view of the city. Bruges is a city trapped in time; it feels a little bit more like a fairy tale than it does real life, and as a result, is incredibly touristy. Most of the city was clearly geared towards tourists, with some local life, but not much. Unfortunately, we arrived at the tower of Bruges (pictured right) too late to go up into it, but we were able to explore a flea market, walk around a significant portion of the city streets, and even venture into a rock café, which was a bit of a juxtaposition. The owner of this café played “Hotel California” courtesy of Zach’s request, for “us Americans,” and played some of Twenty One Pilots’ music, which a nice treat. Bruges was certainly a beautiful city, but I was happy to go back to Gent on Sunday night via a quick train ride.
In general, I’ve noticed that Belgians tend to dress nicer than the average American does, and that each person seems to have a more individualistic style. Most of the locals will speak to you, in Ostend and Gent anyway, if you ask them something, but do not necessarily go out of their way to make conversation. Around Gent and the Gent countryside, people have automatically assumed we speak Dutch until they hear us respond or look slightly confused, which I find interesting, since I feel like we stick out fairly obviously. Additionally, I am impressed by the extent of the mass public transportation all throughout Belgium, something that Arkansas and Oklahoma definitely lack. We traveled by train very conveniently twice this weekend, and it was a very natural thing to do. Gent also has an extensive network of trams that go through the city, in addition to multiple buses. Ostend had a similar system, and according to Hilde, our in-country host, it’s fairly affordable to travel using these services.

This weekend provided an enjoyable break and exposure to other cities in Belgium, and broadened my perspective of the country as a whole. I appreciated the opportunity to contrast my experience so far in Gent with that of two other major cities in Belgium, and am looking forward to spending one final week in Gent!

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Kendrick, a senior Biological Engineering major, spent the Summer 2017 studying on our U of A Faculty-Led: Sustainability in the Euro Food System program.
Read more from Kendrick at https://kendrickchardaway.wordpress.com/
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/